Alcohol Use Predicts 10-Year Depressive Symptom Trajectories in the Health and Retirement Study

Abstract

Objective: To determine effects of late-middle-aged adults’ baseline drinking behavior on their subsequent 10-year depressive symptom trajectories. Method: Health and Retirement Study participants ( N = 7,939) were assessed on baseline demographic, health, and drinking characteristics, and biennially assessed for the next 10 years on their depressive symptoms. Results: Growth mixture modeling generated four classes of depressive symptom trajectories: Consistently low (72%), consistently elevated (6%), increasing (12%), and decreasing (10%). Baseline abstinence from alcohol, possibly enforced by poorer health and a history of drinking problems, and heavier drinking, “binge” drinking, and having a history of drinking problems, raised risk of membership in the “consistently elevated” class. Abstinence by participants without history of drinking problems—and light, moderate, and heavier drinking—protected against membership in the “increasing” class. Abstinence by participants without history of drinking problems elevated—and moderate drinking reduced—likelihood of membership in the “decreasing” class. Discussion: Late-middle-aged adults’ alcohol use is associated with the subsequent long-term course of their depressive symptoms.